A federal judge on Thursday denied a motion to dismiss bribery and extortion counts against Ald. Willie Cochran, saying the alderman’s claims that the alleged victims were never pressured to make payments in exchange for official acts should be tested at trial.

In ruling that the 15-count indictment would stand, U.S. District Judge Jorge Alonso said the charges were “extensive and detailed” enough to allow the alderman to mount a defense before a jury. In a twist, the judge cited case law with a familiar ring to it: U.S. vs. Arenda Troutman, Cochran’s predecessor as 20th Ward alderman who went to federal prison for bribery.

Alonso also denied a separate request to split the charges into two trials, ruling that even though separate schemes were alleged in the indictment, both involved allegations that Cochran used his position as a public official for personal gain.

Cochran, 65, was charged in December 2016 on 11 counts of wire fraud and two counts each of extortion and bribery. The extortion and bribery counts stem from an alleged scheme to shake down two businessmen for cash in exchange for support on deals in his ward.

The wire fraud counts allege Cochran stole tens of thousands of dollars in charitable donations to the 20th Ward Activities Fund and spent it on college tuition for his daughter, trips to Indiana casinos, accessories for his Mercedes and other personal splurges.

Cochran has pleaded not guilty and continues to serve on the City Council while the case is pending.

Attorneys for both sides indicated Thursday they would be ready to set a trial date the next time the case is in court in August. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

In the motion to dismiss the four bribery and extortion counts, Cochran’s attorney, Christopher Grohman, argued that it was the FBI that put pressure on at least one of the victims -- a liquor store owner who'd testified before a grand jury that Cochran never asked him for anything in exchange for the alderman's help with an ordinance change.

Weeks after the grand jury appearance, agents confronted the store owner and told him he'd "be in trouble if he didn't come clean," Grohman wrote in the 32-page motion. The man was then brought back before the grand jury and testified that Cochran had, in fact, demanded $5,000 via a text message.

"It was only ... after continued interrogation and threats from the FBI, that he changed his tune and said he did feel some pressure from (Ald. Cochran) to donate money," the motion stated.

The other alleged victim – an attorney who donated to Cochran’s campaign after receiving letters of support from the alderman for a real estate project in the ward – told the grand jury he never felt threatened or feared repercussions if he didn’t give Cochran the money, according to the motion to dismiss.